Marked foreign data blocks

Abstract

Systems, methods, and computer program products for embedding a foreign data block in a host data file. In general, in one aspect, the computer-implemented method includes receiving a host data file, the host data file having a host data file format, receiving a packet to be embedded into the host data file, the packet including a foreign data block and further including a header and a trailer that delimit the foreign data block, the header including an identifier designed to be distinguishable from all other data in the host data file, a byte pattern that indicates a presence of the header, and a character encoding format of the foreign data block, the byte pattern selected based on the character encoding format of the foreign data block, and embedding the packet in the host data file.

1. A computer-implemented method for embedding a foreign data block in a host data file, comprising:
 receiving a host data file, the host data file having a host data file format; 
 receiving a packet to be embedded into the host data file, the packet including a foreign data block and further including a header and a trailer that delimit the foreign data block, the header including an identifier designed to be distinguishable from all other data in the host data file, a byte pattern that indicates a presence of the header, and a character encoding format of the foreign data block, the byte pattern selected based on the character encoding format of the foreign data block; and 
 embedding the packet in the host data file; 
 whereby the foreign data block is identifiable, extractable, and modifiable by computer programs not configured to recognize the host file data format. 
 
   
   
     2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the foreign data block is a data block not native to the host data file format. 
 
   
   
     3. A computer program product, tangibly stored on a machine-readable medium, for embedding a foreign data block in a host data file, comprising instructions operable to cause a programmable processor to:
 receive a host data file, the host data file having a host data file format; 
 receive a packet to be embedded into the host data file, the packet including a foreign data block and further including a header and a trailer that delimit the foreign data block, the header including an identifier designed to be distinguishable from all other data in the host data file, a byte pattern that indicates a presence of the header, and a character encoding format of the foreign data block, the byte pattern selected based on the character encoding format of the foreign data block; and 
 embed the packet in the host data file; 
 whereby the foreign data block is identifiable, extractable, and modifiable by computer programs not configured to recognize the host file data format. 
 
   
   
     4. The computer program product of  claim 3 , wherein:
 the foreign data block is a data block not native to the host data file format. 
 
   
   
     5. A system for embedding a foreign data block in a host data file, comprising:
 one or more computers operable to perform instructions to:
 receive a host data file, the host data file having a host data file format; 
 receive a packet to be embedded into the host data file, the packet including a foreign data block and further including a header and a trailer that delimit the foreign data block, the header including an identifier designed to be distinguishable from all other data in the host data file, a byte pattern that indicates a presence of the header, and a character encoding format of the foreign data block, the byte pattern selected based on the character encoding format of the foreign data block; and 
 embed the packet in the host data file; 
 whereby the foreign data block is identifiable, extractable, and modifiable by computer programs not configured to recognize the host file data format. 
 
 
   
   
     6. The system of  claim 5 , wherein:
 the foreign data block is a data block not native to the host data file format.